Hired Hottie - Kelsie Rae Page 0,49

admit, feeling as though a weight has been lifted. Unfortunately, it’s quickly followed by a fresh wave of guilt as I picture the look of confusion painted across Charlie’s gorgeous face when I dropped my hand after almost kissing her. “I was an ass. And when she finally asked why I cared so much about who she did or didn’t sleep with…I left.”

“And you haven’t spoken to her since?”

I shake my head.

“Then it looks like your superior is craving a chocolate eclair and is sending you on an errand to pick one up.”

“What?” I ask, thoroughly confused by the random order.

“You need to fix this,” she clarifies, tapping her manicured nails against the oak surface of her desk. “Right now.”

“I screwed up—”

“Tell her that Conner isn’t the one for her. You are.”

“And what about the job?” I press. “I called off the deal, but Conner—”

“Who the hell cares about Conner? He’s a good guy, Levi. And don’t get me wrong, he’s a hard worker, and his dad knows a few people high up in the corporation. But he essentially gave up the final position as soon as he mentioned retracting his resume.”

Blood drains from my face as I ask, “What do you mean? I don’t want to get this position by tattling—”

She cuts me off. “You’re not. I’m saying that management has noticed his hesitancy, as well, and I’d bet it was long before he approached you about Charlie. You’re not a shoo-in, by any means. But they can feel his…,” she pauses to search for the right word, “Hesitation to jump in with both feet. I don’t know how to explain it, and I don’t think management can really put their finger on it, either. We’ve just felt like he’s not all in. He’s been holding back. Regardless, they’re not blind, and they reward those who put their heart and soul into the corporation. Just keep doing what you’re doing and get me that chocolate eclair, okay?”

For the first time in weeks, I feel like I can finally breathe. Like a weight that’s been burying me into the ground has finally been lifted. And everything might just work out after all.

“You sure?” I ask.

With a kind smile and a swift nod, Alexandra stands from her office chair and practically pushes me out the door.

“Get out of here, McCoy. I better get an update when you get back.”

“Sure thing, Alexandra. Thanks again.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Charlie

“I’m sorry…he was at your place, and you didn’t jump his bones?” Suzette accuses.

My phone was blowing up with texts from her, Indie, and Sophie as soon as Levi left my home in a huff. Instead of telling the story three times, or even bothering to text it in the first place because I was so drained, I set up a group message. The answer was simple. If they wanted all the details, then they should meet at Get Baked at noon the next day, and I’d fill them in.

Needless to say, at 11:59 am, I had three sets of eyes counting down the next sixty seconds so they could get the details.

And now, here I am. I’ve rehashed the story and am getting questions thrown at me left and right. If only I knew the answers.

With my face scrunched up, I answer Suzette’s question. “Levi was on my couch with his feet propped on my coffee table and a bowl of popcorn in his lap when I showed up around eleven o’clock last night. He was a total jerk, pretty much telling me I was a slut for kissing his roommate, even though he was the one who set me up in the first place. Then he did the sexy chin grab and got all up in my business before leaving cold turkey like a bat out of hell. And I have no idea how I’m supposed to process any of it.”

“Hmm…,” Indie hums. “And what did he say again? That Conner isn’t the right guy for you?”

Shrugging, I try to remember his exact words, but the whole thing happened so fast, and I’m not sure if I’m making his comment out to be more than he intended. “He said that if Conner didn’t make my toes curl and my…,” I clear my throat, “My boy shorts wet, then he wasn’t the guy for me.”

“And what did you say back?” Sophie probes.

With a groan of defeat, I rub my face roughly. “I asked him who he thought the right guy might be.”

Suzette continues her interrogation.